The one on Clinton St., which closes on Wed and will reopen on Fri as more of a Spanish-themed restaurant, is one of my wife and my favorite NYC restaurants. Other than the fact that we prefer the more intimate Clinton St. location, I don't know why the Hudson St. location wouldn't also be excellent.

Frankie's on Hudson St in my opinion is equal to the Brooklyn location. The under 30 crowd thinks the place is amazing. Fans of Frankies are usually fans of Rubirosa. Frankie's is just OK, it's a dependable acceptable meal. The guys at the Meatball Shop came from Frankie's. The meatballs are good.

I'm not under 30 (I'm 47), yet I love Frankies. Go figure. I think Rubirosa and Meatball Shop are both fun and ok; I enjoy eating at both of them, but neither is the equal of Frankies. The meatball sandwich at Frankies blows away any meatballs served at Meatball Shop.

Interesting that you think the meatballs at Frankies blows away the meatball shop, when the meatball shop owners made the meatballs at Frankies. Go figure. Try the meatballs at Bar Piti they are really good. I"m not saying that Frankies or Meatball shop is bad, I go to both often. But I am saying they don't have "great' food and I do think they are overrated. Bar Piti, Da Silvano, Osteria Morini, D'Andrea are all better than Frankies

I did the meatball sandwich at Frankies and meatball sliders at Meatball Shop last week on back-to-back nights and much preferred Frankies. It wasn't just the meatballs, though, it was the overall package. Frankies uses wonderful bread from Grandaisy Bakery and sprinkles excellent cheese on top. I also add crushed red pepper.

As someone who has eaten at Da Andrea for a number of years (to include before they moved to their current location) and just this past weekend had my first taste of Frankies, I have to say Frankies wins hands down in my book. Da Andrea is good, but many of the dishes there seem not so fresh and overcooked at times. The thing I loved about Frankies is that the food reminded me of the simple, fresh, just-prepared food I have had at many trattoria in Italy.

Have not been to the Hudson Street location, but my wife and I go to the Brooklyn location frequently, and we love the place. Given the track record of the owners, I suggest you try it out and then post your own review.

actually, the west village one is pretty unremarkable. im not a huge fan of the franks' empire but i like prime meats. the one on hudson is close to my apt and i was excited about it but the room has no character...with low ceiling and a weird layout...its very noise-y and with the lack of features, its just a bunch of tables next to one another.

the food is unremarkable...as it is in the other frankies restaurants...but this one is particularly boring. i assume this was a cash grab...selling frankies to the west village. thats fine but its not a place im interested in frequenting.

I went for a very late dinner on Saturday and thought the food was fine, nothing spectacular and nothing upsetting. The one shock was the bill, but in a good way - the meal was surprisingly inexpensive! The meatballs were recommended but I found them a bit dry, and the roasted vegetable salad was executed well. We also ordered the special rigatoni with lamb ragu, which was cooked past al dente (but the lamb was delicious!), plus the cavatelli (with hot sausage and basil) and also the tagliatelle (with mushrooms and mascarpone). Not a destination restaurant for me but I wouldn't mind going back with friends, especially for only $25/head (food only). I also ordered The Durazzo cocktail (possibly gin/vermouth/bitters?) and loved it!

The Roasted Veg salad may be the stand out on the menu. I have gone for that alone. Also prunes and marscapone, great dessert. I go to 17 alot, and I think that is even cheaper than the WV one. I generally approve of these guys, everything I have had there has been good.